Olushola Omogbehin
As the race towards who becomes the governor of Lagos State comes 2027 gains momentum, particularly with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu completing his final term, Abdulazeez Adediran, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yet to endorse anyone to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
Adediran also stated that Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has not declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election.
He stated this during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s political programme Politics Today.
Answering question whether the current deputy governor, Hamzat had secured the President’s backing following speculation circulating in town, he said Hamzat is yet to declared his interest
“He (Hamzat) hasn’t even said to us himself that he is running. He is the deputy governor of Lagos, qualified, with over 20 years of experience in that space.”
He also said that APC in Lagos is yet to issue any directive suggesting a consensus arrangement.
“As we speak, the party says it’s going to be direct primaries. If tomorrow it says this is what we are doing, we will fall in line. The party is supreme,” he said.
On speculations of presidential endorsement, Jandor dismissed the claims, noting that aspirants would be duly informed if such a decision had been taken.
“No, the President hasn’t endorsed anyone. I am an aspirant, and we are a few people also gunning for this. We will be the first set of people to know if there is anything like that because communication will come,” he said.
Speaking further, the former PDP governorship candidate disclosed that he had met with Tinubu, who, according to him, neither discouraged him from contesting nor promised him the party’s ticket.
He also spoke on his earlier declaration of interest saying: “Absolutely, because if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will believe in you. When the President was running for the ticket, he came out to say he wanted to run,” he said.
In case he fails to secure the party’s ticket, Adediran promised to support the party’s choice.
Already, prominent figures who are believed to be interested include the former governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tokunbo Abiru: an aide to the President, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa and the current Depyty Governor, Obafemi Hamzat
As opposition parties continue to realign, President Tinubu and the Governorship Advisory Council (GAC) are the two principal bodies to determine who eventually emerge the candidate of the party.
